BLOGS > INSIDE THE OLUS LAB: QUALITY CONTROL IN PRACTICE

KEY ANSWERS

For those who want the short version:

• Every incoming bulk shipment is analyzed before unloading. No exceptions.
• Quality control continues during production through in-process measurements.
• Every finished batch is verified before release.
• Where applicable, Certificates of Analysis are batch-specific and based on measured values, not generic templates.
• If a shipment does not meet specifications, it is rejected.
• Process controls are designed to prevent batch-to-batch variation.
• Full traceability links raw materials, production data, and final batches.
• Lab and factory operate side by side, enabling immediate action and short communication lines.
• Fatty acid composition is verified using GC-FID analysis.

Quality control does not start at the end of the line

The first control point happens before a single kilogram of raw material enters our facility. When bulk shipments arrive, they are sampled and sent to our lab for analysis. Only after results confirm that quality meets our specifications is the shipment unloaded. If it doesn’t meet the required standard, it doesn’t come in. Full stop.

This step is critical. Variability in raw materials is one of the main drivers of inconsistency in finished feed additives. Controlling it at the gate prevents downstream variation.

Control continues through every stage of production

Once raw materials are approved, monitoring continues throughout the production process. Process parameters are set and adjusted at defined control points, depending on the product and its specific characteristics. These are embedded process controls, not occasional checks.

Because natural variation in raw materials cannot be avoided, adjustments are made based on measured values. This allows the process to stay within predefined specifications and supports consistent product quality. This means deviations are detected and managed during production, not after.

End-product testing alone cannot correct what has already gone wrong earlier in the process.

Final release is based on data, not assumption

Before any product is released, it is verified against specifications.

Each batch is approved only after passing this final control step. The Certificate of Analysis provided to distributors reflects this full process:

• Incoming raw material control
• In-process monitoring
• Final batch verification

Where a Certificate of Analysis is provided, it is linked to the specific production batch. The values reported are based on measurements taken during that run, not on a generic specification.

This ensures that the document reflects the product delivered, not an average or expected range.

Analytical control

GC-FID for fatty acid verification

For lipid-based feed additives, composition is not assumed, but measured. This is particularly relevant for fat-based products, where even small shifts in fatty acid composition can influence functional performance.

Fatty acid profiles are analyzed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). This method enables accurate quantification of individual fatty acids and verification of the product composition against predefined specifications.

This is relevant because the functional performance of lipid-based products depends on their composition. By verifying fatty acid profiles at intake and during production, consistency is monitored at a molecular level.

This analytical control supports batch-to-batch consistency and provides a measurable basis behind the Certificate of Analysis.

Traceability from source to final product

Each batch is fully documented, with raw material lots, analytical results, and production parameters recorded and linked to the final product batch.

This means that for every batch, it is possible to trace:

• which raw material lots were used
• which analytical results were obtained at intake and during production
• under which process conditions the product was manufactured

If a question arises downstream, it can be traced back to its origin. This enables fast and accurate response, both at distributor level and in the field.

Lab and production

One integrated system

One thing that genuinely strengthens our quality control approach is the close connection between laboratory and production. This proximity is especially important in fat production, where process conditions are sensitive and require immediate validation. Our lab is physically attached to the production facility, which means communication lines are short and action can be taken quickly.

That may sound like a practical detail, but in daily operations it makes a real difference. When a measurement raises a question, lab staff and production staff can communicate directly, review the result immediately, and respond while the process is still running. This helps prevent small deviations from developing into larger issues later in production.

Because the lab is part of the same operational environment, results do not need to wait on external testing, sample transport, or delayed reporting. Information moves quickly, decisions are made in real time, and the production team can act on the latest data without unnecessary delay.

This integrated way of working increases control, improves responsiveness, and supports more consistent product quality from batch to batch.

What “consistent quality” actually means

Consistent quality isn’t a single moment of inspection at the end of a batch.

It is a chain of decisions — at intake, during processing, at release — made by people who are close to the product.

It is a controlled system:

• Selection and verification of raw materials
• Continuous monitoring during production
• Final validation before release
• Full traceability across the chain
• Analytical verification of composition

This is how variability is reduced and performance becomes predictable. Especially in fat-based feed additives, this level of control defines whether a product performs as expected in the field.

Not as a claim, but as a process.